Here are Charlotte’s 21 oldest restaurants and what to order at each.

Melissa Oyler, Philip Freeman
·7 min read

Charlotte’s oldest restaurants are quickly becoming relics. When deciding where to eat, how do we balance the excitement of new restaurant arrivals with our support of its classic establishments?

In a 2017 article, The Charlotte Observer’s Kathleen Purvis listed Charlotte’s 11 oldest restaurants. Six years later, only six of those places to eat are still open. With so many of our city’s classic restaurants closing, including the latest announcement that we would be losing Gus’ Sir Beef, which of our longtime favorites remain?

Here are the 21 oldest restaurants in Charlotte — consider one of these the next time you’re looking for a place to dine:

House of Pizza

Location: 3640 Central Ave., Charlotte, NC 28205

Neighborhood: Eastway/Plaza Midwood

  • Opened: Around 1979

  • Owner/founder: Owned by siblings Maria Psilopoulos, Helen Mitsios and Nick Kakavitsas.

  • Menu

  • Cuisine: Italian

  • What to order: Famous Philly sub — your choice of steak or chicken — served with provolone cheese, mushrooms, peppers and onion.

This homegrown chain was built in Charlotte on craft beer and woodfired pizza

Bojangles

Location: 300 West Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203

Neighborhood: Wilmore

  • Opened: The original location opened in 1977, before it became the chain restaurant we know today.

  • Owner/founder: Jack Fulk and Richard Thomas

  • Menu

  • Cuisine: fast-casual Southern

  • What to order: The easy answer is a Cajun Filet Biscuit or Sandwich combo, complete with seasoned friends and iced tea, but the magic of Bo’s is its variety. Whether it’s breakfast all day, dirty rice or a Bo-Berry biscuit, everyone has their go-to order here.

Nakato Japanese Steakhouse

Location: 8601 University Executive Park Dr, Charlotte, NC 28262

Neighborhood: University

  • Opened: 1976

  • Owner/founder: Founded by the Nakato family

  • Menu

  • Cuisine: Japanese

What to order: Nakato’s Delight is a Hibachi feast of chicken, shrimp and your choice of NY strip or filet mignon.

Carolina Family Restaurant

Location: 4600 Wilkinson Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28208

Neighborhood: West Charlotte/Westerly Hills

  • Opened: 1976

  • Owner/founder: Founded by the late Pete Gavrilis, now run by his daughter Maria Kotros.

  • Menu

  • Cuisine: American, comfort food

  • What to order: The daily special (chuckwagon cheese steak, baby beef liver, spaghetti with housemade meat sauce could all be on the menu).

Carolina Family Restaurant is at 4600 Wilkinson Blvd., near Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
Carolina Family Restaurant is at 4600 Wilkinson Blvd., near Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

Carolina Family Restaurant is still feeding newcomers and regulars 45 years later

Brooks’ Sandwich House

Location: 2710 N. Brevard St., Charlotte, NC 28205

Neighborhood: NoDa

  • Opened: 1973

  • Owner/founder: Founded by the late Calvin “CT” Brooks Jr., now run by his son David Brooks. David’s twin brother, co-owner Scott Brooks, was killed in 2019 while trying to open the restaurant for the day.

  • Menu

  • Cuisine: American

  • What to order: Double cheeseburger all the way, with chili cheese fries and a side of slaw.

Brooks’ Sandwich House has been open since 1973.
Brooks’ Sandwich House has been open since 1973.

Brooks’ Sandwich House stands the test of time with burgers, fries and chili

Arthur’s Wine Shop/Arthur’s Restaurant

Location: Inside of Belk at SouthPark Mall, 4400 Sharon Rd, Charlotte, NC 28211

Neighborhood: Barclay Downs/SouthPark

  • Opened: 1972

  • Menu

  • Cuisine: American

  • What to order: Swiss & Mushroom Burger, with Swiss cheese, sautéed onions, mushrooms, lettuce and tomatoes served on a toasted bun. Add on the soup of the day.

If you know, you know: Cheesesteaks, wine and more hidden in the basement of SouthPark Belk

Kopper Kettle

Location: 11000 Nations Ford Rd, Pineville, NC 28134

Neighborhood: Pineville

  • Opened: 1971

  • Menu

  • Cuisine: American

  • What to order: The Original Smash Pot, with tomatoes, cheese, onions, peppers and potatoes.

Riccio’s Italian Restaurant

Location: 9213 Baybrook Ln Charlotte, NC 28277

Neighborhood: Touchstone Village

  • Opened: 1962

  • Cuisine: Italian

  • What to order: Go for a classic here — Chicken Parmesan, with boneless breast fried and topped with tomato sauce and melted mozzarella.

Bar-B-Q King

Location: 2900 Wilkinson Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28208

Neighborhood: West Charlotte/Ashley Park

  • Opened: 1959

  • Owner/founder: Opened by Charlie Psomadaski and Jack Law. Sold in 1972 to Pete Giannikas. Now owned by Pete’s brother, Steve Giannikas, and George and Gus Karapanos.

  • Menu

  • Cuisine: barbecue

  • What to order: Fried chicken dipped in barbecue sauce, with a side of fresh onion rings.

Bar-B-Que King has been open since 1959, serving customers in its drive-thru.
Bar-B-Que King has been open since 1959, serving customers in its drive-thru.

Beef and Bottle

Location: 4538 South Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28209

Neighborhood: South Charlotte/Collingwood/LoSo

  • Opened: 1958, under the name House of Steaks. The new name and location came in 1978.

  • Owner/founder: Founded by the late George Fine.

  • Menu: Appetizers, Steaks, Seafood, Combinations, Chicken and Pasta

  • Cuisine: classic steakhouse

  • What to order: Your favorite cut of beef, cooked to order — top it with bleu cheese crumbles, brown mushroom gravy or horseradish. The build-your-own-salad at your table is a nice change of pace in this incredible timewarp.

Beef and Bottle hangs on to a classic steakhouse vibe.
Beef and Bottle hangs on to a classic steakhouse vibe.

This classic steakhouse on Charlotte’s South Boulevard isn’t going anywhere

Shuffletown Grill

Location: 10220 Rozzelles Ferry Rd, Charlotte, NC 28214

Neighborhood: Mountain Island

  • Opened: 1957

  • Menu

  • Cuisine: American, Greek

  • What to order: The F-150 is a great breakfast choice — two eggs any style with country fried steak smothered in gravy, choice of grits or hashbrowns, toast or biscuit. Breakfast is served until 11 a.m. on the weekdays and noon on Saturday.

South 21 Drive-In

Location: 3101 E. Independence Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28205

Neighborhood: East Charlotte/Commonwealth Park

  • Opened: The original (now closed) spot opened in 1954, and the Independence Boulevard location opened in 1959 remains.

  • Owner/founder: Founded by brothers Sam, George and Nick Copsis. Now owned by Nick’s son-in-law, George Housiadis.

  • Menu

  • Cuisine: American

  • What to order: Fried filet trout plate with fries and tartar sauce (it’s discounted on Wednesday and Friday). If you’re still hungry, go for the onion rings.

South 21 Drive-In moved to its Independence Boulevard location in 1959.
South 21 Drive-In moved to its Independence Boulevard location in 1959.

Circle G

Location: 4818 Rozzelles Ferry Rd, Charlotte, NC 28216

Neighborhood: Thomasboro-Hoskins

  • Opened: This location has been open since 1954.

  • Menu

  • Cuisine: American

  • What to order: Go for the Ribeye Steak and Eggs for breakfast (served until 11 a.m. during the week and all day on Saturday). You get two eggs any style with an 8 oz. Ribeye steak, grits or hash browns, toast or biscuit.

Tastis Restaurant

Location: 2328 N. Graham St, Charlotte, NC 28206

Neighborhood: Tryon Hills

  • Opened: The original location opened in 1954 under the name Hutchison Avenue Grill.

  • Menu

  • Cuisine: American

  • What to order: Two Grilled Pork Chops and Applesauce.

The Open Kitchen

Location: 1318 W. Morehead St., Charlotte, NC 28208

Neighborhood: FreeMore West

Open Kitchen pizza to-go: Half Mama “K” Supreme and half cheese.
Open Kitchen pizza to-go: Half Mama “K” Supreme and half cheese.

Charlotte’s first pizza restaurant stays true to its roots almost 70 years later

Original Chicken ‘n Ribs

Location: 1100 Beatties Ford Rd, Charlotte, NC 28216

  • Opened: 1952

  • Owner/founder: Otis Blackmon Sr. opened it and his grandson Jermaine Blackmon owns it now.

  • Menu

  • Cuisine: Fried chicken, seafood, burgers, Southern

  • What to order: Fried chicken or burgers — and you can’t go wrong with the most popular dish: An order of whole wings without sauce.

Jermaine Blackmon, owner of Original Chicken ‘n Ribs, plans to stay in his family business for the long haul. “I want to work here ’til I’m 80 or 85 if I’m healthy,” he said.
Jermaine Blackmon, owner of Original Chicken ‘n Ribs, plans to stay in his family business for the long haul. “I want to work here ’til I’m 80 or 85 if I’m healthy,” he said.

Original Chicken ‘n Ribs provides seafood, slaw, a safe haven and more for seven decades

Greystone Pub

Location: 3039 South Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28209

Neighborhood: Sedgefield

  • Opened: 1947; the original building was torn down to build a shopping center.

  • Owner/founder: Founded by Tom Kanos. Tom’s son-in-law, Andy Koutsokalis, took over in 1976. Now it is run by Andy’s son, Tommy Koutsokalis.

  • Menu

  • Cuisine: American, Greek

  • What to order: Self-proclaimed “Ameri-Grk” cuisine covers the menu — if you’re hungry, try Andy’s Heavyweight, a sandwich with Greek marinated flank steak and grilled onions topped with baked provolone.

The original Greystone Pub opened in 1947, but the building was torn down.
The original Greystone Pub opened in 1947, but the building was torn down.

From biscuits and gravy to EDM, here’s how The Greystone has kept pace with South End

Dairy Queen

Location: 2732 Wilkinson Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28208

Neighborhood: Ashley Park

  • Opened: 1947.

  • Menu

  • Cuisine: Ice Cream

  • What to order: A Blizzard, of course. Or go for a dipped cone, a shake or a banana split.

The Dairy Queen in west Charlotte off Wilkinson Boulevard is up for sale. The half-acre site, opened in 1947, is selling for $1.4 million.
The Dairy Queen in west Charlotte off Wilkinson Boulevard is up for sale. The half-acre site, opened in 1947, is selling for $1.4 million.

‘A slice of culinary Americana.’ The 75-year-old Charlotte Dairy Queen goes up for sale

The Diamond

Location: 1901 Commonwealth Ave., Charlotte, NC 28205

Neighborhood: Plaza Midwood

  • Opened: 1945

  • Owner/founder: Flonnie and W.A. James; John Fuller and his wife Daphne Aycock are the current owners.

  • Menu

  • Cuisine: American

  • What to order: Fried pork chops, sweet potato fries — and, yes, mac and cheese is a veggie here.

The James family built the Diamond Soda Grill in 1945 and sold it to Jerry Pistolis in 1982. While the building is the same, a team that included Fuller took it over in 2010 and gave the inside and the menu a spiffing up, with a retro-modern style.

The Diamond Restaurant was built in 1945 and renovated in 2010.
The Diamond Restaurant was built in 1945 and renovated in 2010.

Providence Road Sundries

Location: 1522 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC 28207

Neighborhood: Myers Park

  • Opened: 1933 (built as a drugstore — it’s unclear when food was added).

  • Menu

  • Cuisine: American

  • What to order: Grilled blackened wings and a shrimp bowl with kale and arugula, avocado, tomatoes, onion, Parmesan and honey lime dressing. Don’t miss the chili either.

The original space at Providence Road Sundries, which first opened in 1933.
The original space at Providence Road Sundries, which first opened in 1933.

This Myers Park restaurant staple is still going strong after nearly 90 years

Green’s Lunch

Location: 309 W. 4th St., Charlotte, NC 28202

Neighborhood: Uptown

  • Opened: 1926

  • Owner/founder: The late Robert Green. Now it is run by Joanna Sikiotis.

  • Menu

  • Cuisine: American

  • What to order: Hot dog all the way (mustard, ketchup, homemade coleslaw, freshly chopped onions and secret-recipe homemade chili) — served on a freshly steamed bun. Make it a meal with a side of fries or onion rings.

Green’s Lunch has been open in Charlotte since 1926.
Green’s Lunch has been open in Charlotte since 1926.

Green’s Lunch has been open 96 years. In Charlotte’s changing food scene, what’s its secret?

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